Seme
Hmm, I'm decided to keep this blog as a diary of my kendo progress, seeing how its really the only thing that really interests me at the moment. I'm also into rock climbing, but thats kinda part time now.
Anyway, I've seen a few kendo blogs and it seems like a good way to keep record of one's progress on a very long road.
So yeah, I went to kendo not feeling the best the other day. For some reason I was just feeling a bit more tired than usual, and sweeping the floor seems to really sap my energy, but someone's gotta do it. Being probably the most junior member of those who wear armour, that makes it me by default. Anyway, I started feeling better as we did the warm up. Seems like my fitness is somewhere near its peak (though that peak ain't too high) 'cos I feel quite good by the time we do hayasuburi (skipping cuts). I wish someone would make us do more, or do it faster, just so that I can push myself a bit more. this doesn't look likely though, since the beginners course has joined us in the warm up, and most of them can't do 10 of these cuts, let alone the 40 that we normally do. Ah, how I wish my had my own little dojo in the back yard like Mr Miyagi has.
Well the warm up was followed up with some kihon (basic) practice, with footwork and shinai geiko practice. All a bit ho hum, but good to practice any way. Once we got into full armour, we did more kihon, though this time we got to practice tsuki thrusts. Always fun. I seem to miss to the left or right when I try a full blown thrust. Must be using too much right hand or something, gotta ask someone about that. I received a really good full blown thrust which actually missed a bit below the target, giving a nice bruise right on the chest. Too bad I can't really show that one off.
On to jigeiko. First couple were quite fun. Seemed to be using my seme effectively, or so I thought. The first jigeiko was quite good. Was able to use my seme to push my opponent back and actually draw a cut. I was so surprised and returned a kaeshi do (apparently very hard to do properly) which didn't quite hit properly. But good to know I have those reflexes. I just continued with a whole bunch of seme-shikake men/kote cuts. My opponent commented after that my zanshin was too shit, but in a nicer way, which it is. Really need to work on believing in my cuts. The last guy I had for jigeiko was ranked much higher, shodan I think, I don't really know anyone's rank now, but not that it really matters. Anyway, I realised how shit my seme actually shit. I was like waves crashing onto a stone wall. So no seme meant no forced openings, so I decided to just try and rush in... only to get my ass kicked. This guy was quite fast and just practice debana cuts on me. I don't think I even landed any of my cuts on him.
So the lesson learnt today? My seme is shit and needs to be worked on. Probably need to use my feet better. Last week I focused on using my feet and did quite well. Didn't really focus on that this week, so thats probably the problem. Anyway, looking forward to the next training.
Anyway, I've seen a few kendo blogs and it seems like a good way to keep record of one's progress on a very long road.
So yeah, I went to kendo not feeling the best the other day. For some reason I was just feeling a bit more tired than usual, and sweeping the floor seems to really sap my energy, but someone's gotta do it. Being probably the most junior member of those who wear armour, that makes it me by default. Anyway, I started feeling better as we did the warm up. Seems like my fitness is somewhere near its peak (though that peak ain't too high) 'cos I feel quite good by the time we do hayasuburi (skipping cuts). I wish someone would make us do more, or do it faster, just so that I can push myself a bit more. this doesn't look likely though, since the beginners course has joined us in the warm up, and most of them can't do 10 of these cuts, let alone the 40 that we normally do. Ah, how I wish my had my own little dojo in the back yard like Mr Miyagi has.
Well the warm up was followed up with some kihon (basic) practice, with footwork and shinai geiko practice. All a bit ho hum, but good to practice any way. Once we got into full armour, we did more kihon, though this time we got to practice tsuki thrusts. Always fun. I seem to miss to the left or right when I try a full blown thrust. Must be using too much right hand or something, gotta ask someone about that. I received a really good full blown thrust which actually missed a bit below the target, giving a nice bruise right on the chest. Too bad I can't really show that one off.
On to jigeiko. First couple were quite fun. Seemed to be using my seme effectively, or so I thought. The first jigeiko was quite good. Was able to use my seme to push my opponent back and actually draw a cut. I was so surprised and returned a kaeshi do (apparently very hard to do properly) which didn't quite hit properly. But good to know I have those reflexes. I just continued with a whole bunch of seme-shikake men/kote cuts. My opponent commented after that my zanshin was too shit, but in a nicer way, which it is. Really need to work on believing in my cuts. The last guy I had for jigeiko was ranked much higher, shodan I think, I don't really know anyone's rank now, but not that it really matters. Anyway, I realised how shit my seme actually shit. I was like waves crashing onto a stone wall. So no seme meant no forced openings, so I decided to just try and rush in... only to get my ass kicked. This guy was quite fast and just practice debana cuts on me. I don't think I even landed any of my cuts on him.
So the lesson learnt today? My seme is shit and needs to be worked on. Probably need to use my feet better. Last week I focused on using my feet and did quite well. Didn't really focus on that this week, so thats probably the problem. Anyway, looking forward to the next training.
posted by Son at 1:14 pm
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home